A Gift of Historic Proportions

A
birthday present in honor of Linda Buck Meyer ’69 will ensure an enriching education
for the next generation of Rollins students.

There
are many ways to celebrate a spouse’s birthday—throw a surprise party, splurge
on jewelry, take a trip to an exotic locale. Larry Meyer opted for something less traditional.

For
his wife’s birthday, Meyer established The Linda Elizabeth Endowed Scholarship
Fund, which will provide tuition support for English and history majors for years
to come.

Why Rollins?

For
Linda Buck Meyer ’69, Rollins offered a transformational education that laid
the foundation for the rest of her life.

“I
received a very literate education. I had expansive reading and writing
opportunities, and I think that small classes encouraged those possibilities
and reinforced my love of reading,” said Linda. “Happily, I had that liberal
arts background before entering law school, a more focused and technical
pursuit.”

Beginning
her student-life at Rollins in the midst of significant changes and the social
unrest of the sixties, Linda studied history and discovered a thriving academic
community and a social niche on campus among the Kappa Kappa Gamma sisters.
“Rollins was a good place for me,” said Linda. “I could excel academically while
enjoying a college experience. It was small enough not to be intimidating, but
it was also large enough so that one could bounce ideas off different types of
people.”

After
Rollins, Linda went on to graduate from The University of Texas School of Law,
and then practiced law with the federal government and a private law firm in
Washington, D.C., where she met Larry. Continuing to apply her skills of
reasoned analysis and critical thinking, she currently provides legal,
financial planning, and investment advising services to women who are widowed
or in the throes of divorce.

Why an endowed scholarship?

“It
seemed appropriate to recognize Rollins College—an important part of her life’s
development—on her birthday,” said Larry. The scholarship reflects the life and
values of the person whom Larry describes as “a beautiful woman inside and out
who has a positive outlook on life and a strong devotion to family and
friends.”

Because
of the College’s strong reputation, Rollins receives applications each year
from prospective students of the highest quality. For some of these students, however, the cost
of a first-rate liberal arts education is simply out of reach. Endowed
scholarships play an essential role in making a Rollins education more
accessible while allowing top students, regardless of circumstances, to secure
a place in an engaging but challenging academic community.

“Words
can’t express what a fabulous person Linda is in all respects,” said Larry. “Her
friends from Rollins would agree that she is a living testament to the positive
nature of one’s experience as a student at Rollins. Her classmates and friends
from Rollins—and there are several—underscore what a terrific place it was and
is to go to college.”

For
her part, Linda is overjoyed to know that this endowed scholarship will allow
others to benefit from a Rollins education, just as she has.

To
learn more about ways to advance Rollins’ mission through endowed and legacy
gifts, please contact Lisa Thomson, associate vice president for development,
at 407-646-2010.